Black Theatre Summary
Black theatre began in 1769 yet produced, directed, written, and acted out by white companies to a white audience. The plays were rather demeaning, portraying Afro Americans as idiotic an without poise. They were essentialy empty characters and offensive which is one reason why there werent many black performers. In 1776, black slaves who served in the troop were freed, avenged their masters and was reenacted in a John Leacock play which gave black performers positive roles during a positive time period. In 1821, a new black theatre rose, founded by a West Indian black. During the performances, the white audience would shout snide comments. The theatre tried to appeal to the white audience, however, the color of the performers skin was too unpleasant for them. The hatred grew so strong, they destroyed the theatre.The effort didn't end there. The secretary of the NAACP founded a National Theatre that created special sections for black audiences. In 1840, the Minstrelsy formed. It was a force that imitated black people. They focused on stereotypes, songs, dances, and humor of humble black characters. As soon as black artists began to express themselves through art, the white people took control and rained on their parade. However, black people continued to prosper in theatre. Black producers created big showtime musicals, black dramatist saught out negative images of black people and was determined to destroy them. By 1902, blacks made history on the broadway stage. Fast forwarding to the twenties, began the Harlem Renaissance or the "New Negro" period. It was a cultural, intellectual awakening that attracted young black artists from around the world. This period generated future developments for the American stage. Racial awareness was also prevalent in the black theatre throughout its time to expose audiences to racial situtations that have been going on for decades. A slight set back was made during the 1930's. The depression ended many theatres in Harlem, however many black artists remained optimistic and created exciting oras to advocate for creative thinking. Radical protest during the depression boosted black artists and affected white playwrights because some recognized the relation blacks had to American life, jobs and the union. One recogonizable black writer that is very much appreciated is Langston Hughes. Langston Hughes was the most proflific, influential and creative black writer of this time. He contribution to the black theatre is incomprehensible. Hughes was the first of many to do things in black theatre and is honored by many cultural and art institutions. The 1930's started off as a good start but quickly declined and many theatres closed down but thanks to Franklin Roosevelt and the Fedreal theatre, public relief workers were hired to work in the theatre with good salaries. This gave black artists the opprotunity to express and interpret their culture like desired. During the 1950's and 1960's, television risen and Broadway shows declined. The new invention of tv crippled the American theatre, black artists began moving out of Harlem and closer to the commercial scene. Work was minimal, even less than during the depression. Many movements fluctuated black theatre temporarily. The Civil Rights Movement played a major part in finding identity and rebelling against the white folk creatin a great impact on the performers. A "black aesthetic" was formed. All in all, black theatre went through alot of changes throughout the years. However, each change and each person who contributed to that change should be recognized and never forgotten. It is continuosly underrated and struggle to exist, performers today are still searching for their identity in a world that favors the majority.
Black theatre began in 1769 yet produced, directed, written, and acted out by white companies to a white audience. The plays were rather demeaning, portraying Afro Americans as idiotic an without poise. They were essentialy empty characters and offensive which is one reason why there werent many black performers. In 1776, black slaves who served in the troop were freed, avenged their masters and was reenacted in a John Leacock play which gave black performers positive roles during a positive time period. In 1821, a new black theatre rose, founded by a West Indian black. During the performances, the white audience would shout snide comments. The theatre tried to appeal to the white audience, however, the color of the performers skin was too unpleasant for them. The hatred grew so strong, they destroyed the theatre.The effort didn't end there. The secretary of the NAACP founded a National Theatre that created special sections for black audiences. In 1840, the Minstrelsy formed. It was a force that imitated black people. They focused on stereotypes, songs, dances, and humor of humble black characters. As soon as black artists began to express themselves through art, the white people took control and rained on their parade. However, black people continued to prosper in theatre. Black producers created big showtime musicals, black dramatist saught out negative images of black people and was determined to destroy them. By 1902, blacks made history on the broadway stage. Fast forwarding to the twenties, began the Harlem Renaissance or the "New Negro" period. It was a cultural, intellectual awakening that attracted young black artists from around the world. This period generated future developments for the American stage. Racial awareness was also prevalent in the black theatre throughout its time to expose audiences to racial situtations that have been going on for decades. A slight set back was made during the 1930's. The depression ended many theatres in Harlem, however many black artists remained optimistic and created exciting oras to advocate for creative thinking. Radical protest during the depression boosted black artists and affected white playwrights because some recognized the relation blacks had to American life, jobs and the union. One recogonizable black writer that is very much appreciated is Langston Hughes. Langston Hughes was the most proflific, influential and creative black writer of this time. He contribution to the black theatre is incomprehensible. Hughes was the first of many to do things in black theatre and is honored by many cultural and art institutions. The 1930's started off as a good start but quickly declined and many theatres closed down but thanks to Franklin Roosevelt and the Fedreal theatre, public relief workers were hired to work in the theatre with good salaries. This gave black artists the opprotunity to express and interpret their culture like desired. During the 1950's and 1960's, television risen and Broadway shows declined. The new invention of tv crippled the American theatre, black artists began moving out of Harlem and closer to the commercial scene. Work was minimal, even less than during the depression. Many movements fluctuated black theatre temporarily. The Civil Rights Movement played a major part in finding identity and rebelling against the white folk creatin a great impact on the performers. A "black aesthetic" was formed. All in all, black theatre went through alot of changes throughout the years. However, each change and each person who contributed to that change should be recognized and never forgotten. It is continuosly underrated and struggle to exist, performers today are still searching for their identity in a world that favors the majority.